Arizona man arrested in fatal road-rage shooting of girl, 10

Joshua Gonzalez is pictured in this Thursday booking photo provided by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.  (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office via AP)

The Arizona man accused of gunning down a 10-year-old girl after an episode of road rage has now been charged with murder, officials said.

Sgt. Vince Lewis with the Phoenix Police Department announced at a press conference Friday that 20-year-old Joshua Gonzalez had been booked and charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Summerbell Brown.

According to police, it was a community tipster who led investigators to look at Gonzalez, whom Lewis described as having an extensive criminal history riddled with violence.

GIRL, 10, KILLED IN HER DRIVEWAY IN PHOENIX ROAD-RAGE SHOOTING

On Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. Phoenix police responded to calls of a shooting at a residence near 3800 W. Moreland St. They found the Brown family inside a vehicle in the driveway of the home with two of the four passengers suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds.

Lewis said that investigators discovered that the Brown family had been involved in a road-rage incident just before the shooting, during which their car allegedly cut off a white pickup belonging to Gonzalez not far from their home.

Police say Gonzalez reportedly followed the family home and was confronted by Summerbell’s father, Dharquintium Brown.

That’s when police say Gonzalez fired his gun, striking the vehicle several times before taking off.

Summerbell was critically wounded and was transported to an area hospital with her father who was also struck.

She was pronounced dead a short time after.

Brown was treated for his injuries and later released and police say he is expected to survive.

Lewis said that tips connected to a composite sketch and an image of Gonzalez’s truck are what ultimately led to his arrest.

“Police investigators identified the truck as the same vehicle used in the crime, even after modifications were actively made to change the vehicle's appearance.”

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Lewis said the wheels and tires had been changed. Police obtained a search warrant and found the gun used in the shooting inside Gonzalez’s garage.

In addition to the first degree murder charge, Gonzalez was charged with three counts of aggravated assault.

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